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Troy-Bilt pressure washers use a gasoline-engine-powered high-pressure pump to deliver a powerful stream of water to clean outdoor surfaces around your home. If your pressure washer isn’t running right, there are several things you can check out and repair yourself, possibly saving you from needing an expensive professional repair.

1

Verify that the gas engine is in running condition. Your pressure washer’s pump won’t operate at all if the engine doesn’t start. Check that there is gasoline in the tank and the oil sump is full. Check that the fuel valve is turned to the “on” position, the choke lever is in the “Choke” position and the throttle is in the “Fast” starting position. The engine may not start if there was high pressure left in the washer’s pump at last shutdown. Release any pressure in the pump by squeezing the trigger on the washer’s spray wand.

2

Check that there is a sufficient supply of water to the washer to enable the machine to reach high pressure. If you can’t get high pressure, verify that your water supply source is open full force, your supply hose is a 3/4 inch or larger garden hose and that the hose is free of kinks, blockage and leaks. Also check that the water inlet filter is free of clogs. Remove a clogged filter and rinse it clean in warm water.

3

Tighten joints of all hoses and fittings with a wrench to ensure constant pressure. Air sucked into the pump through leaky joints will cause output pressure to vary from high to low. Other things to check if output pressure varies include a clogged water inlet filter, debris obstructing the discharge nozzle and hard water deposits blocking the hose or spray wand. Clean debris from a clogged inlet filter with clear water and remove nozzle debris with a fine needle. Clean hard water deposits by dipping the detergent suction tube in household vinegar and running the vinegar under pressure through the machine.

4

Add more detergent if a check of the detergent reservoir shows it is empty. Dilute the detergent if it is too thick to pass through the reservoir’s suction tube. Other things to check if you’re not getting detergent include a loose connection between the detergent suction tube and the washer or a clogged or damaged detergent suction tube. Tighten the detergent suction tube connection and clear or replace a faulty suction tube. Clean clogs from the filter atop the detergent suction tube with clear water and make sure the spray wand is set to the detergent wash position.

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About the Author

Herb Kirchhoff has more than three decades of hands-on experience as an avid garden hobbyist and home handyman. Since retiring from the news business in 2008, Kirchhoff takes care of a 12-acre rural Michigan lakefront property and applies his experience to his vegetable and flower gardens and home repair and renovation projects.